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Loving New World and want more of that MMO fix? There are plenty of games out there that hit the same spot, each with its own pros and cons.
Whether it's the crafting you like about New World, or its open-world PvP, its different style of combat, or its social aspects, there are several other games that you might enjoy.
5 Guild Wars 2
Guild Wars 2 is still going strong after all these years (it was released in 2012) and even has a brand new expansion releasing in February 2022, check out our preview of End of Dragons here.
The closest similarity between Guild Wars 2 and New World is that they share some aspects of action combat. There is no tab targeting system and a great emphasis is put on being able to dodge, attack quickly, and generally be a bit more mobile with your playstyle.
Several comparisons have been drawn between these two games, but the sluggish weapon changing in New World might actually make the smooth combat controls of Guild Wars 2 feel a lot better. Worth checking out in February if New World runs dry.
4 Elder Scrolls Online
Are you desperately missing some of the momentous PvE moments that most MMOs have delivered? New World isn't that, at all, but Elder Scrolls Online is. Set in the universe of Tamriel and the Elder Scrolls, there are familiar sights here for regulars of the franchise, but of course, with a unique MMO spin.
It's taken the game a while to pick up steam, but if you're a fan of well-thought-out PvP events with dozens of other players, ESO fulfills that promise much, much better than New World, at least in its current state.
There are clearly some problems with the game (it pretty much force-feeds you in-game advertisements for currency purchases, for example) but its community is still healthy and strong. Worth checking out.
3 Black Desert Online
Love the crafting in New World? Black Desert Online goes head-to-head with it. It's massive. Expansive. Almost totally overwhelming. A complete sandbox MMO where you can spend the next several years of your life leveling up your brewer stats to sell beer to thirsty MMO denizens.
It's not just the crafting that draws parallels with New World: different settlements can be upgraded with better blacksmiths and kitchens; there are guild wars that fight over large chunks of territory, and resource nodes spread out over the game world so that player levels are balanced wherever you see them.
It's a grind. It's overwhelming. But in terms of pure compatibility with fans of New World, Black Desert Online might just tick all those boxes and more. As an aside, it's getting an upgraded version for XBX Series X and PS5, too.
2 Final Fantasy XIV
No list of MMOs will sit right with anyone if it doesn't include FF14, one of the greatest MMOs ever released, and with some of the coolest social aspects we've ever seen in a game of its type. Our writers have covered some amazing topics, like player-run theatres and nightclubs, as well as the excitement leading up to the Endwalker expansion.
Final Fantasy 14 has fantastic graphics, detailed dungeons, and narrative arcs, sandbox gameplay, and updates that seem to get better with every addition. It doesn't take itself overly seriously but still punches a hefty emotional weight if you're looking for something like that. Compared to the barren narrative in New World, FF14 is leagues and leagues ahead.
Yes, there are elements of Final Fantasy's endgame that can become a bit grindy, but the journey to get there is easily a couple of hundred hours of brilliance. Try and catch up before Endwalker drops. We dare ya.
1 RuneScape
Oh, RuneScape. Now bear with us here. RuneScape is obviously a bit dated by all accounts, but we did recently write about how New World and RuneScape are basically the same game. Well, pretty much.
The grind. That endless grind of resources. RuneScape is infamous for it, and New World slots right down next to its elderly MMORPG sibling. You can spend several hundred hours maxing out everything in New World. It took that long in RuneScape, and then some.
There are some key differences, of course, like the introduction of beautiful graphics, a better PvP system, and generally a bit more to do, but in their hearts, New World and RuneScape are encouraging you to do the same thing: lose time and lose it well.